Orientasi Pendidikan Islam: Dalam Pemikiran Imam Al Ghozali

Abstract

This article examines the orientation of Islamic education in the thought of Imam Al-Ghazali, focusing on its philosophical foundations, objectives, and implications for contemporary Islamic education. The study aims to analyze Al-Ghazali’s conception of education as a holistic process that integrates intellectual development, moral refinement, and spiritual purification in order to achieve human perfection (al-insān al-kāmil) and ultimate happiness in both worldly life and the hereafter. Employing a qualitative library research method, this study analyzes Al-Ghazali’s primary works and relevant secondary literature using a descriptive-analytical approach. The findings indicate that Al-Ghazali views Islamic education as a transformative process grounded in the Qur’an and Sunnah, in which knowledge is not merely transmitted but internalized through ethical conduct and spiritual discipline. He emphasizes the central role of educators as moral exemplars and highlights the importance of a balanced integration of reason, ethics, and spirituality in the educational process. This study further reveals that the limited implementation of Al-Ghazali’s educational philosophy in modern contexts has contributed to an imbalance between intellectual achievement and moral-spiritual development. Therefore, Al-Ghazali’s educational orientation remains highly relevant as a foundational framework for reforming contemporary Islamic education, particularly in promoting harmony between knowledge and character formation, as well as fostering a meaningful teacher–student relationship aimed at attaining comprehensive human development.